2025 Guitar Certificate adjudications will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 9-1 at UMBC.

The BCGS Guitar Certificate program is designed to cultivate and promote classical guitar education throughout the state of Maryland and neighboring states. Students and performers of all ages and levels of ability can participate. Participants will be evaluated on a set of graded requirements, ranging from levels 1-15. Participants can also choose to audition for jury comments only, i.e. not to audition for a specific certificate level. Upon successful completion, students will receive written feedback from professional educators, as well as a certificate for their participation.

Auditions are LIVE, but those who prefer to audition by video, can do so.

Please review: Guidelines for Performers / Letter to Teachers / Performance Assessment Rubric

If you are a parent registering more than one child: All performers need to be members individually. That means that you need to get membership for each performer.

Performance Requirements:

-Two prepared pieces. Click on this link “Repertoire List” for a list of pieces and their corresponding levels. These pieces are suggestions only; you are welcome to perform any pieces that you like, but you need to contact us beforehand to clarify within which level your pieces will fall.

-Scales, here is a list of scales.

Examination Levels:

Levels 1-15 or jury comments only.

Performance Assessment Rubric:

Here is a Performance Assessment Rubric to help you or your students prepare for the performance. Please review it with your teacher.

Registration:

Registration fee is $35 and is non-refundable. In addition, each performer is required to be a BCGS member to be evaluated by our expert jury. We offer different levels of membership. We will be using an online registration form again for the 2025 Guitar Certificate.

Free Parking:

Parking at UMBC couldn’t be easier, it is right across from the entrance to the Center for the Arts, in lot 8. Just a few steps away. Enter the Arts and Humanities Building (where Linehan Concert Hall is) and go downstairs and turn right. The stairs are right in front of you. You will be met by a BCGS person who will guide you.

Anything else?

Contact us HERE.

We have selected music from the standard repertory and you should be able to find the required scores wherever you regularly purchase music. In many cases, the required music is already in the public domain and may be found for free on IMSLP. We have also included a link to the music in the Repertoire List when the music is in public domain. Here is a link to the scales.

The Certificate Program is open to guitarists of all ages and abilities!  Please see the Repertoire List in order to determine which level is most appropriate for you.

For levels 1-10, it is perfectly acceptable to perform with the music, although you will receive higher overall marks for music that is memorized. For levels 11-15, music should be performed from memory.

You can access the evaluation rubric at this link.

There is no formal dress code, but it doesn’t hurt to look nice! Remember the way a musician presents themselves contributes a great deal to the overall performance.

Please bring everything you will need in order to perform (instrument, footstool, music, etc.).

Each evaluation should last approximately 10 minutes.

No, this is not a public performance. Each student will present their prepared repertoire in front a small and private jury of guitarists selected by the BCGS.

Everyone who successfully participates will receive an official certificate, signed by the President and the adjudicators. Additionally, you will receive comments from the jury members with suggestions for how to continue improving your understanding and ability as a guitarist.

 

 

Looking for a place for brunch / lunch after the auditions?

Check out these restaurants who are only a few minutes away from UMBC.

Catonsville Gourmet

829 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, MD. 21228  410-788-0005

Ships Cafe Restaurant and Crab House

828 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228 (410) 744-1838

Umami Global Bistro

712 Fredrick Rd. Catonsville, MD 21228 (410) 788-7878

Please follow these steps:
1. Pay membership if needed
2. Pay registration
3. Fill out application

1. Click here to renew membership
2. Click here to pay for registration
3. Click here to Fill out the application

BCGS Certificate performers receive a positive, written, feedback from the jurors, as well as a certificate for participation.

JURORS:

Franco Platino, Faculty
Peabody Conservatory and Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University

Andres Felipe Palacios
BCGS Artist-in-Residence

Jesse Washburn
BCGS Director of Operations